Island Peak an Epic Summit Expedition

Following breakfast the following morning, you will go for a full-day sightseeing trip of the Kathmandu Valley. You may see Swyambhunath, a very old temple that is essentially classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the revered Pashupatinath Temple.

Highlights of our guided trip include the largest Buddhist stupa at Boudhanath and the exquisite artwork and old architecture of Kathmandu Durbar Square, which showcase the ancient culture of Nepal.

Patan City’s historic architecture and renowned fine arts will charm you on a visit. You will have time to explore the neighborhood, eat supper, and maybe take a leisurely stroll down the well-known streets when you get back to your hotel. A traditional Nepalese dinner at the Nepali Cultural Restaurant rounds off the day.

After breakfast, we’ll be transferred to TIA’s domestic terminal for an early morning flight to Lukla. After flying above the stunning green and white mountains, we arrive at Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla. This is one of the most picturesque aviation routes in the world, culminating in a landing on a hillside surrounded by towering mountains. When we arrive in Lukla, we meet our other crew members and, after some packing and arrangements, we begin our journey through the wealthy settlement of Lukla to Phakding. We have a short hike today to help with acclimatization. However, if you are interested in extra activities, we can take a side trip to a local monastery. Stay overnight in Phakding.

After breakfast, we stroll through gorgeous pine trees and along the Dudh Koshi River, completing our nature-filled excursion in Namche Bazaar. After walking for over an hour, we come across the gleaming Mt. Thamserku (6,608m) on our right and enjoy the tranquility of pine, fir, and juniper forests throughout our trek. If the weather is clear, we may even see Mt. Everest looking over the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge. We continue walking till we reach the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park, Namche Bazaar, the gateway to Mt. Everest and the region’s primary trading center. This day, we traverse five suspension bridges, the highest being the Hillary Bridge. It is an uphill hike from the Hillary Bridge to Namche Bazaar. Overnight in Namche Bazaar.

This is the day set aside for acclimatization. Health experts recommend that we stay active and move around even during the rest day instead of being idle. There are a few options set aside for this day. We can either stroll around Namche’s quaint villages or come in contact with the Sherpa people and their rich culture, or we can hike up to the Everest View Hotel and enjoy an up-close view of the mighty Everest. While in the Namche village or upon returning from the hike to the Everest View Hotel, trekkers may also visit the local museum containing exhibits displaying the area’s native flora and fauna as well as the history of the Mount Everest region.

Trekkers who want to hike for a little longer may consider a hike to Khumjung village (5-6 hours). While in the hamlet, we can visit the Edmund Hillary School and Khumjung Monastery (which is famed for housing the Yeti’s head!). Overnight in Namche Bazaar.

After breakfast, we set out for Tengboche. It is a short walk from Namche to Phunki. After arriving in Phunki, we ascend to Tengboche, a town that is home to the world-famous Tengboche monastery, the largest monastery in the Everest region. Located in Sagarmatha National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site of “outstanding universal value”), it offers a spectacular 360-degree vista of the Himalayas, including Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and Thamserku. The monastery opens at 3:00 p.m., so if we’re lucky, we could get to see a religious ritual. Tengboche will be our overnight stop.

Tengboche’s monastery is in an ideal location, with the Himalayas as a backdrop. We go to the monastery in the morning and enjoy shooting pictures of the monastery and the breathtaking scenery. We descend for approximately half an hour through the forest before crossing a river. Next, we hike uphill, noticing that as we ascend, the scenery grows dryer. We stroll past the ancient Sherpa settlement of Pangboche before arriving in Pheriche, a picturesque riverbank village. We’ll also see a small helipad, which is utilized for helicopter rescues during emergencies. We may even take a class with an HRA mountain specialist at a medical center in Pheriche. Overnight in Pheriche.

After breakfast, we begin with a leisurely walk towards Dugla. Next, we hike up the steep terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier, then ascend through the boulder-strewn slopes to Chupki Lhara, where we find an array of stones with prayer flags used as memorials to Scott Fischer (American mountaineer) and 10-time Everest summitter Babu Chiri Sherpa (Nepalese mountain guide), who died on a mission to climb Everest. The trail eventually leads to the Khumbu Glacier moraine, where we see several impressive peaks, including Khumbutse, Lingtren, Pumori, and Mahalangur Himal. Overnight in Lobuche.

We follow the trail to Everest Base Camp through the once-vast Gorak Shep Lake. We continue straight ahead and come across the memorials to the Indian army mountaineers. The path from here can be confusing, so we must carefully follow our lead Sherpa. The hike is tough due to the thin air at high altitudes. We go over stony dunes, moraine, and streams before arriving at Everest Base Camp. When we arrive to Everest Base Camp, we observe climber tents in brilliant colors against the monotony of drab surroundings (particularly in the spring). The mountains seen from the base camp are Nuptse, Khumbuste, and Pumori. We return to Gorak Shep for a wonderful night of rest. Overnight in Gorak Shep.

We prepare for an early morning departure in the pre-dawn darkness and frigid conditions (-10 to -14 C). Furthermore, frigid winds are not uncommon. To the east, familiar peaks such as Lingtren, Khumbutse, and Changtse stand out as Everest begins to expose itself. However, it is only when we arrive at Kala Patthar that we are able to see 360-degree up-close and imposing views of Mount Everest. We take pictures, admire the breathtaking mountain scenery, and then return to Lobuche for a good night’s sleep. Overnight in Lobuche.

After breakfast, we will hike to Kongma La Base Camp (5,000m/16,404ft) across the Khumbu Glacier. The climb to Kongma La Pass is the most tough aspect of our expedition today. The Kongma La pass is marked by a cairn covered in prayer flags. Then we gently descend into the Imja Khola valley, followed by another dip to Chhukung, a little summer town. After arriving in Chhukung, we will inspect our equipment in preparation for our ultimate ascent. Overnight in Chhukung.

The trail to Island Peak Base Camp is fairly steep. We start by climbing south, then turn east to follow the valley’s main line. We then follow a zigzag path beneath the southern flank of the moraine from the Lhotse Glacier. We then continue walking on a beautiful track alongside a stream. The route to Amphu Labtsa is to the southeast. A crisscrossing trail across the Imja and Lhotse glacier moraines leads to a broad valley surrounding the southwest side of Island Peak. Overnight at the Island Peak Base Camp.

We start our pre-climb training today after breakfast. Our guides will teach you peak climbing skills as well as how to properly use climbing gear such as an ice axe, climbing boots and crampons, harness, ascender, and so on. The training will also include using ropes to ascend and descend. Although prior training is not required for Island Peak Climbing, we strongly feel that it will raise your confidence and climbing skills, increasing your chances of reaching the peak and thoroughly enjoying the experience. We can spend the remainder of the day trekking to high camp and returning, or resting before the next day’s ascent. Overnight at the base camp.

We wake up early today, about 12 or 1 a.m., and eat breakfast before commencing our trek. It is critical that we arrive at the summit before midday, as strong gusts in the highlands may impede a successful ascent. The trail ascends for many hundred meters beyond the base camp before abruptly ending on the high mountainside.

Initially sandy, the trail quickly transitions to grass before becoming boulder-strewn. As we climb the hill, we will see the slope narrowing and the trail becoming a steep rock channel. We climb the rocky gully. This is not tough, although there are a few short rock steps to climb before we reach the right side of the gully. The route then follows a ridgeline, culminating in a thrilling and exposed trek to the summit glacier’s snout. If a rope is required, the guides will fix it. A steep snow slope leads us to the summit ridge.

To ensure safety, both the fixed rope and the main rope will be used during the climb. We utilize a fixed rope after successfully climbing a rock. The rope’s length is normally 350 meters. The length, however, varies according to the season and the crevasses present. There are two newly developed crevasses that are around 3 and 4 meters long. We shall cross them with ladders. After enjoying the summit views and snapping pictures, we descend all the way to Island Peak Base Camp, which some of our crew are waiting for us.

We wake up early today, about 12 or 1 a.m., and eat breakfast before commencing our trek. It is critical that we arrive at the summit before midday, as strong gusts in the highlands may impede a successful ascent. The trail ascends for many hundred meters beyond the base camp before abruptly ending on the high mountainside.

Initially sandy, the trail quickly transitions to grass before becoming boulder-strewn. As we climb the hill, we will see the slope narrowing and the trail becoming a steep rock channel. We climb the rocky gully. This is not tough, although there are a few short rock steps to climb before we reach the right side of the gully. The route then follows a ridgeline, culminating in a thrilling and exposed trek to the summit glacier’s snout. If a rope is required, the guides will fix it. A steep snow slope leads us to the summit ridge.

To ensure safety, both the fixed rope and the main rope will be used during the climb. We utilize a fixed rope after successfully climbing a rock. The rope’s length is normally 350 meters. The length, however, varies according to the season and the crevasses present. There are two newly developed crevasses that are around 3 and 4 meters long. We shall cross them with ladders. After enjoying the summit views and snapping pictures, we descend all the way to Island Peak Base Camp, which some of our crew are waiting for us.

Today’s hike will be considerably simpler as we descend to lower elevations. Following the same way back across the vast valley of Khumbu Khola, we pass via the lovely Sherpa settlements of Orsho and Shomare.

We can alternatively take a different trail to see the Gompa in Upper Pangboche, which is thought to be the oldest in the Khumbu region, or continue on the main trail to Pangboche. Pangboche is a picturesque settlement flanked by Everest to the north, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, and Kangtaiga to the east, the Kongde range to the south, and the Imja Tse river that flows through the vast fertile valley.

We retrace our route from Pangboche to Imja Khola and then back up through the forest to Tengboche. If you’re interested, we can also go visit the nuns at Tengboche monastery. After lunch in Tengboche, we continue along the rhododendron and juniper-covered slope. After passing the bridge over the Dudh Koshi River, our trail descends quickly through the pine forests to Sansa.

We keep an eye out for animals such as mountain goats, snow leopards, colorful pheasants, and so on as we travel through the forest. After passing a chorten, we arrive at Namche Bazaar’s army camp. Stay overnight in Namche Bazaar.

The trail dips rapidly, so we must walk carefully as our weak legs constantly battle the uneven ground. After passing the suspension bridges over the swiftly flowing Dudh Koshi and its tributaries, the trail becomes more flat and natural. After arriving in Lukla, we stretch our sore legs and reflect on the previous few weeks’ adventures. Overnight in Lukla.

After breakfast, we head to the airport for our flights. The terminal building is exceedingly cold, with limited refreshments and snacks. The flight is amazing once you’ve lifted off and are rushing down into the emptiness. After missing the hillside below Number Peak and avoiding the Lamjura Pass, the plane heads to Kathmandu. Then you will be met by Gravity Expedition representatives at the domestic airport. Overnight in a hotel.